BY SIBUSISEKILE NDLANGAMANDLA
MANZINI– 480 participants have completed two generative artificial intelligence programmes offered by the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) in 2026, gaining skills to apply the technology in professional and educational settings. 350 participants completed the Mastering Generative AI for Professionals programme, while about 130 completed the Generative AI for Educators programme.
UNESWA Vice-Chancellor Professor Justice Thwala said artificial intelligence was increasingly being adopted in workplaces, classrooms, businesses and institutions. He said the key question was no longer whether people would use artificial intelligence, but how effectively and responsibly they would use it.
Thwala said professionals who develop AI skills will be better positioned to identify where the technology can add value within their organisations and where human judgement should remain central.
The programmes attracted more than 570 participants combined, with more than 420 enrolling in the Mastering Generative AI for Professionals programme and more than 150 enrolling in the Generative AI for Educators programme.
He said AI literacy should go beyond knowing how to generate a document, image or presentation. He cautioned that generative AI could produce incorrect information, reproduce bias, misunderstand context and expose confidential information when used carelessly.
Skilled users should therefore be able to question, verify and use AI-generated information responsibly. For educators, Thwala said the responsibility was greater because teachers and lecturers were preparing learners for workplaces where artificial intelligence would increasingly form part of everyday life. He also encouraged educators to help learners use AI critically and responsibly while continuing to think, question and exercise their own judgement.
The University is also expanding its capacity to deliver AI-related training through a smart classroom equipped with digital display screens and cameras. Thwala said the facility would allow future courses to be delivered in a hybrid format, enabling participants who require direct support to attend physically at the University while those comfortable with online learning can participate remotely.
The approach would enable the AI Academy to reach a wider section of society while responding to different learning needs. The Vice-Chancellor also encouraged the graduates to apply the skills acquired through the programmes to real problems in their workplaces, classrooms, institutions and communities.
Meanwhile, participants who were unable to complete all programme requirements within the allocated period will receive another opportunity to complete their outstanding work and qualify for their certificates, according to Thwala.
He said UNESWA remained committed to supporting graduates through further programmes, partnerships and opportunities for continued professional development. The graduation of the two cohorts marks another step in the University’s efforts to build practical artificial intelligence skills among professionals and educators in Eswatini.
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(Courtesy Pic)
